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Pittsburgh Pirates: Left Feels Right With Free Agent Pitching Targets

By Cody McHale|
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - AUGUST 29: Brett Anderson #42 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Miller Park on August 29, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. All players are wearing #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. The day honoring Jackie Robinson, traditionally held on April 15, was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - AUGUST 29: Brett Anderson #42 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Miller Park on August 29, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. All players are wearing #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. The day honoring Jackie Robinson, traditionally held on April 15, was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – AUGUST 29: Brett Anderson #42 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Miller Park on August 29, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. All players are wearing #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. The day honoring Jackie Robinson, traditionally held on April 15, was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – AUGUST 29: Brett Anderson #42 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Miller Park on August 29, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. All players are wearing #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. The day honoring Jackie Robinson, traditionally held on April 15, was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Brett Anderson

Originally drafted by the Diamondbacks in 2006, Brett Anderson is an 11+ year MLB veteran with stops in Oakland, LA, Toronto, and NL Central rivals Chicago and Milwaukee. He managed only 47.0 innings of 4.21 ERA, 6.13 K/9, and 4.38 FIP ball during an injury-plagued 2020 season which ultimately resulted in his exclusion from the Wild Card roster. However, Anderson had shown prior flashes of brilliance, including a 31 start 2019 where he posted a rock-solid 3.89 ERA over 176 innings. Overall, he sports a lifetime 4.06 ERA, 6.15 K/9, and an encouraging 3.93 FIP.

Anderson was signed to a 1yr/$5M deal for the Brew Crew and failed to live up to the hype as a result of a recurring blister on his pitching hand. Coupled with his soon-to-be age 33 season, a shortened, if average 2020 probably leaves him open to a discounted one year contract.

If he can stay healthy, his brief familiarity with Pittsburgh’s division, penchant for limiting HR/9, and veteran status could make him a valuable piece of the rotation. Plug him in at the top half and profit at the trade deadline.

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